WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11697) on Aug. 15, 2025, by defense policy analyst Anya L. Fink: * * * Defense Primer: Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3) The Department of Defense (DOD) is replacing many elements of the U.S. nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) architecture as part of the United States' ongoing efforts to recapitalize its nuclear forces. This architecture - compos more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10519) on Aug. 15, 2025, by defense policy analyst Anya L. Fink. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: Strategic Nuclear Forces The United States is in the process of modernizing its strategic nuclear forces. This modernization effort includes numerous Department of Defense (DOD) major defense acquisition programs, some of which are annually assessed by the Government Accou more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10578) on Aug. 14, 2025, by Latin American affairs specialist Clare Ribando Seelke: * * * Evolution of U.S.-Mexico Security Cooperation For roughly 15 years, successive U.S. and Mexican governments have pursued close bilateral security cooperation. U.S. officials assess that Mexico-based drug cartels continue to pose a national security threat to the United States. Mexican drug more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R41909) on Aug. 7, 2025, entitled "Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress" by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary Multiyear procurement (MYP) and block buy contracting (BBC) are special contracting mechanisms that Congress permits the Department of Defense (DOD) to use for a limite more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R41909) on Aug. 7, 2025, entitled "Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition - Background and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Issues for Congress Potential issues for Congress concerning MYP and BBC include whether to use MYP and BBC in the future more frequently, less frequently, or about as frequently as they are currently used; an more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R43546) on July 30, 2025, entitled "Navy John Lewis (TAO-205) Class Oiler Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress" by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary The John Lewis (TAO-205) class oiler shipbuilding program is a program to build a new class of 20 fleet oilers for the Navy. The Navy procured the first TAO-205 in FY2016, and a total o more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42037) on July 18, 2025, entitled "SBA Surety Bond Guarantee Program" by R. Corinne Blackford, small business and economic development policy analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary The Small Business Administration's (SBA's) Surety Bond Guarantee Program is designed to increase small businesses' access to federal, state, and local government contracting, as well as private-sector contract more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48629) on Aug. 13, 2025, entitled "Small Business Research Programs: Selected Issues for Reauthorization" by Marcy E. Gallo, science and technology policy analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Congress established two programs that support small business research and development (R&D): the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR more PR